Modern Quilt Month: Improvisation! (5)

Here's part 5 (and the finale!) of our improvisation series. In quilting, improvisation refers to a freeform, intuitive approach to design where quilters create without strictly following traditional patterns, precise measurements, or pre-planned templates; it has its own category within modern quilt shows. We hope you enjoy these outstanding quilts.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

Out of the Blue by Emilie Trahan (Quebec, Canada) @mili.tra

Winner of 1st Place in the Improvisation category at the 2025 QuiltCon show. This is the second quilt of a series that explores the relationship of the color red with every other color; this quilt focuses of red and blue.  "Originally started with the intention of being a 'small' wall hanging, this piece is a testament to the very nature of improvisation and how it can grow organically, and outgrow our conceptions, hopefully opening up new paths," says Emilie Trahan.  Amazingly, this piece is entirely made of upcycled fabrics (mainly bed linens) with upcycled flannel sheets as batting. 

Field Counts 3 by Susan Lapham (Virginia) @susanjlapham 

This piece reminded us of the artwork of Henri Matisse with its solid color shapes and smooth curves.  The artist, Susan Lapham, explains the title of her "Field Counts" series: "My father counted things.  Everything. The number of birds in a flock, trees in the olive grove, cows in the field.  We counted ants in a hill, spikes on a papyrus plant, leaves we raked up... Little did we know he was teaching us to communicate, observe, understand. To feel satisfied, content, and accomplished. He gave us a sense of order and routine and somehow we knew we were loved." 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

Modern Quilt Month: Improvisation! (4)

In quilting, improvisation refers to a freeform, intuitive approach to design where quilters create without strictly following traditional patterns, precise measurements, or pre-planned templates. It has its own category within modern quilt shows! We hope you enjoy these photos of improvisational quilts.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

Relax by Karen Bolan (California) @karen.bolan 

This quilt is based on catenary curves. A catenary is a curve that describes the shape of a hanging chain or wire under gravity. Catenary curves are the physical embodiment of relaxation. The curves in the quilt are made from yarn draped between two pins. The shape has many real-world applications outside of quilting, You see them in bridges, arches, cables, even soap bubbles!  

Karen Bolan explains the title of her quilt, Relax: "I sometimes feel every quilt has to be the best quilt I've ever made, and also solve all the world's problems. It's an impossibly high bar.  Why is it so hard to relax? 

Nurturing the Pod by Jane Rundle (Queensland, Australia) @janemadlyquilting 

"Nurturing the Pod" is improvisationally pieced with various checkerboard and suare shapes in bright orange and red hues.  Jane Rundle explains Nurturing the Pod: "Nurturing is what mothers do, it's what family does. Our jobs sometimes turn us into nurturers of our colleagues, especially during difficult times... Being nurtured makes us feel safe and loved, and gives us the chance to grow to our potential."

 Back Off! by Annie Hudnut (Colorado) @anniehudnut 

Annie Hudnut says that leftover scraps can produce guilt, frustration or inspiration (so true!) "I decided to do a series to use up some of my leftover pieces. Back Off emerged as a favorite. A two-headed monster invading someone's space? We've all had that person who's just too close for comfort.  I love that my yellow figure actually conveys that feeling despite his/her lack of detail.  Circles and curves are such a delight!"

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Modern Quilt Month: Improvisation! (3)

In quilting, improvisation refers to a freeform, intuitive approach to design where quilters create without strictly following traditional patterns, precise measurements, or pre-planned templates. It has its own category within modern quilt shows! We hope you enjoy these photos of improvisational quilts.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

Lifelines by Emilie Trahan (Joliette, Quebec, Canada) @mili.tra 

Winner of Judge's Choice award at the 2025 QuiltCon show, Emilie Trahan says this piece was created at a point of exhaustion, as she was working as a healthcare professional during the pandemic in 2022. "Whether you see it bursting and being torn apart, or being held and pulled together, this quilt explores how sinuous the lines of our destiny can be, and how a narrow lifeline could change everything," she says.

Lifelines was created with improvisational curve piecing. Amazingly, the quilt was made entirely of upcycled fabrics (mainly sheets and pillowcases), improvisational curve piecing, and machine quilting without a frame (domestic).   

Scattered Thoughts by Deborah Boschert (Texas) @deborahboschert 

Here is a lovely art quilt collage made by Deborah Boschert with a variety of techniques: machine applique, hand embroidery, machine quilting without a frame, printmaking, and surface design. Notice the chair, stitched in red, in the open space at the right of the quilt. Deborah says: "For me, the chair symbolizes the importance of stillness. And making space.  And the idea that clarity can come from rest."

Deborah explains the quilt title, Scattered Thoughts: "Even when I have the opportunity to sit quietly and observe everything around me, sometimes my thoughts are chaotic and interrupted. Other times they are ordered and predictable. I created this textile collage during a time when I was grasping for control and predictability. And yet I made something completely random, irregular and unexptected."   

Embers by Barbara Danzi (California) @barbdanzi

 

Embers was inspired by the warmth of a campfire and the glowing embers; the red hot hues bring the embers to life. Barbara Danzi says that Embers is a study in figure/ground composition, with the ground, or negative space forming shapes so similar to the figures. Embers was improvisational pieced  and machine quilted on a frame (longarm) with matchstick quilting.  You can see more of Barbara's fine art quilts at her website.

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Modern Quilt Month: Improvisation! (2)

In modern quilting, improvisation refers to a freeform, intuitive approach to design where quilters create without strictly following traditional patterns, precise measurements, or pre-planned templates. It has its own category for modern quilt shows! We hope you enjoy these photos of improvisational quilts.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

Pop Art Dandelion by Jo Avery (Stirlingshire, UK) @joaverystitch 

Outstanding - improvisational - and SO colorful!  Pop Art Dandelion is "a further exploration of my Dandelion clock block," says Jo Avery.  "I used light through dark shades of the same colour to create large flowers using my Freehand Foundation Piecing technique. The interlocking rings of petals give a layering effect. The use of bright colours with strongly contrasting backgrounds and the four block layout give this a Pop Art vibe."  The piece was quilted on a Handi Quilter MoxieXL long arm using FMQ and some rulerwork.

Tryst by Irene Roderick (Austin, Texas) @hixsonir 

Irene Roderick is the author of Improv Quilting (available at Amazon)! We love the painterly quality she achieves with solid color fabrics, making Tryst look from a distance more like an oil painting than a quilt!  She explains, "I love playing with shape and color and when it's all finished, stepping back to see what I've made. "This quilt looked like two figures meeting in the dead of night and [they are] probably up to no good!" 

Disco Robots (Vertebrae #6) by Mindy Brown (Alexandria, Virginia) @A_study_of_mindy

This improvisational quilt vibrates with energy and movement! Mindy Brown says that Disco Robots (Vertebrae #6) came from an idea to try and create the same motif with strip piecing. The use of strong contrasts emphasizes the "vertebrae" motif. Mindy Brown says, "I ended up with these funny figures and when I put them together they looked like they were at a party!" You can see more of her fascinating Vertebrae quilts on her website.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Quiltcon show in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE: This post has some affiliate links for products we think you’ll like. Even if you don’t want to buy the items online, we think it’s helpful to see what they look like, so you can buy them at your local craft store. If you make a purchase from one of these links, we’ll make a small commission. There is no extra charge to you.

Modern Quilt Month: Improvisation! (1)

In modern quilting, improvisation refers to a freeform, intuitive approach to quilt design where quilters create without strictly following traditional patterns, precise measurements, or pre-planned templates. It has its own category for modern quilt shows! We hope you enjoy our photos of improvisational quilts.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

A ZigZag Journey, The Quilted Life by Frieda Anderson (Florida, USA) @FrieStyle

We love the freeform zigzags and subtle color changes in this quilt! Frieda Anderson used zigzags to represent the non-linear pathways that life often takes.  "The continuous and sharp turns of a zigzag reflect the unexpected twists, turns and obstacles we encounter on our life's journey.  It serves as a reminder that progress is not always straightforward and growth often comes from facing the challenges, detours, and unexpected changes."

Swimming the Salish Sea by Krista Hennebury (British Columbia, Canada) @Poppyprint

With this beautiful piece, Krista Hennebury reflects on her experience of swimming the Salish Sea (near British Columbia). She says, "This quilt is my swimming story. Each breath takes my view from depth to surface in a rhythm of dark to light as I swim in the beautiful and sparkling Salish Sea." Free cutting and improvisational piecing were used to create these effects.

String Theory by Sue Erdreich (@quiltcrochetcolor) / New Jersey Modern Quilt Guild (group members: Margy Schilling, Mary Kirchoff, Miguel Huidor, Kathy Morganroth)

String Theory is bursting with color and energy! Sue Erdreich says, "This quilt was created as part of my guild Improv Bee.  I wanted to show how warm and cool colors can play against each other for graphic impact.  Bee members sewed the scrap strips together, which I then cut into the curved forms that make up the quilt." (p.s.  This is a wonderful way to use up fabric scraps!) 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.
 

 

Modern Quilt Month: Minimalist Design! (2)

Minimalism refers to a design approach that emphasizes simplicity, clean lines, and a restrained aesthetic. Within the Modern Quilt Guild, it has its own category for shows! We're honoring modern quilts for the month of July, starting with minimalist designs.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

Klee for a Day, 37" square, by Karen Duling (Michigan) @karenbduling

Paul Klee's inspiring work "Fire in the Evening" influenced the use of color and line in this quilt.  Karen Duling explains, "My version started by sewing together a long-held collection of medium and dark value strips.  Strips were arranged using lessons learned by studying Klee's work.  Textile artist Rosalie Dace opened my eyes to Klee's work in her virtual class "The Thinking Eye." Klee for a Day is machine quilted in a grid using silk thread, adding subtle texture to the minimalist design.

Off Kilter by Margo Yang (California) @Quiltmagic

  

This quilt with its creative use of reclaimed materials and its minimalist design conveys a heartfelt message: "Distractions in life happen, They can throw your world into chaos. That's when you hold on to things that anchor you, be it faith in God, family, and friends. These distractions will be but a short while and then life goes on and everything will be okay at the end. This quilt is made of old denim, garment top and painter's drop cloth as background. It reminds me that life is not perfect but beautiful." For more about Off Kilter see this post by Margo Yang.

 

Extreme Dopamine by Jenn Burt (North Carolina) @jenngeorgeburt  

Dopamine is a chemical messenger that works in the brain and is associated with pleasurable reward and motivation. This quilt is titled "Extreme Dopamine" because of the way the artist felt about creating this piece: "It was joy-inducing from the design process to the color scheme selection, to the embracing of a newly-found love of piecing inset organic shapes, to the time devoted to hand quilting." 

We found our eyes moving from the subtle curves and contrasts in the background, to the intense colors and quilting within the circles, shown below.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Modern Quilt Month: Minimalist Design! (1)

Minimalism refers to a design approach that emphasizes simplicity, clean lines, and a restrained aesthetic. Within the Modern Quilt Guild, it has its own category for shows! We're honoring modern quilts for the month of July, starting with minimalist designs.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

Imaginary Places V: Dreaming in Calm by Carolina Oneto @carolina_oneto (Brazil), quilted by Veronica Dacal 

This quilt serves as a peaceful shelter, reflecting the subtle harmony of nature. Each stitch invites calmness and contemplation, providing a momentary escape from our fast-paced complex world, thus allowing us to reconnect with the serenity that resides within. 

Carolina Oneto explains, "In Imaginary Places V: Dreaming in Calm, I explore the tranquility of imaginary landscapes.  With a muted color palette, soft greens depict a serene lake, while gray gradations over the mountains create a soothing atmosphere. 

 Park Modern by Robert Lowe @rbtlowedesigns (New Mexico), quilted by Tisha Cavanaugh

Beautiful smooth lines and strong contrasts distinguish this architecture-inspired quilt. Robert Lowe explains, "Although the architecture this piece was influenced by is reminiscent of the Guggenheim Museum, a landmark work of 20th-century design by Frank Lloyd Wright, it is instead from just after that time period, and by different architects.  The building was designed for Macy's Queens Plaza department store in Queens, New York by Skidmore Owings & Merrill and this is only its parking structure."

Vacation Rental by AnnMarie Cowley (Oregon) @runandsew 

This fascinating quilt exhibits the clean lines and precision that characterize minimalist designs.  The piece was inspired by modern architecture, but not by any specific building! As AnnMarie Cowley explains, "Using AI to generate a mid-century modern summertime theme, I used an inset circle for the sun and created a paper piecing template on giant paper.  It's quilted with my signature seer-sucker quilting (on a longarm machine)." 

 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Transparency Quilt Challenge: Sunshine Amidst Rain

Transparency is a hot trend in quilting! The challenge is to choose opaque fabrics to create the illusion of transparency. The American Patchwork and Quilting Transparency Challenge produced some incredible quilts by artists around the world. We hope you enjoy our photos!

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.   

Sunshine Amidst Rain by Sarah Wigden (Pennsylvania) @misswigglymakes

There are so many things to love about this quilt, including Sarah Wigden's expert use of color and value along with her hand quilting.  Sarah says that the design for this quilt had been on her mind for a couple of years and she decided it was time to make it.  While making it, she recognized rain/umbrellas in the design but also sunshine motifs in the quilting. 

Combining the elements of umbrellas/rain along with sunshine made Sarah think of trying to find the sunshine moments amids the rainstorms of life. "Quilting is one of those spots of sunshine for me." We love the hand quilting which adds a soft texture and shadows to the surface of the quilt.

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 QuiltCon show in Phoenix, Arizona. 

Main Street on Independence Day

Does your home town celebrate the 4th of July? Also known as Independence Day, this US holiday commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.  We always enjoy the fireworks and the red, white and blue decorations - including quilts!  Today's featured quilt really sparkles with red, white and blue fabrics and pinwheels.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on craft jewelry, patterns, and collectibles!
For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter.    

Main Street on Independence Day, made and quilted by Carol Pavey McConahy (Icy Swan Creations)

Carol Pavey McConahy based this wonderful quilt on the Main Street quilt pattern by Sassafras Lane Design.  The flying geese borders were her original design to make the quilt wide enough for a queen-size bed. She used 20 different red fabrics and 14 blue fabrics for the top. The pure red and blue colors are the perfect combination. We love the "confetti" fabric in the background!

 (Happy 4th of July to all!) 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2025 Tucson Quilters Guild show.